Reusable carrier bags: Nelson firm scoops huge deal

Nelson Packaging in Townsley Street, Nelson. Image: Google Street View.

A Nelson firm has bagged itself a huge contract by manufacturing reusable carriers for a giant national pet shop chain.

As the nation got to grips with new legislation on plastic carrier bags this week, Nelson Packaging in Townsley Street was grabbing a new opportunity.

The firm is designing and manufacturing a new fully recyclable bag from recycled plastic for the country’s leading specialist retailer of pet food, accessories and services Pets at Home.

Nelson Packaging were approached by Pets at Home who wished to see the company’s bags made in the United Kingdom rather than Asia in “substantial” volumes to support local manufacturing and employment.

Louise Stonier, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Pets at Home said: “By embracing the spirit of the new legislation we have been able to develop a new carrier that is technically still a ‘single-use’ bag, but in practice is more reusable, more recyclable and made in Britain – it’s a win-win-win.

“We have done a lot of research and it’s clear this is by far the best solution from an environmental point of view.”

The new bag is also printed with suggestions on how customers can use the bag for pet-related alternatives to shopping.

Proceeds from the 5p charge for each new bag will be used to benefit local good causes.

Louise added: “With the improvements we have made, our customers can re-use the bags more often and we are working on ways to incentivise much greater re-use of our carrier bags.

“If we can encourage customers to use the new bag 16 times then we have calculated that the impact on the environment is offset completely.”

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